Buckle



June 22, 1943. J. A. WESTERFIELD 2,322,609

BUCKLE Filed Oct. 21, 1942 JamesA. TVsZerfiTe Zd,

INVENTOR.

ATTCJRN EYS Patented June 22, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUCKLE James A. Westerfield, Beaver Dam, Ky.

Application October 21, 1942, Serial No. 462,847

Claims.

My invention relates to fastenings for garment belts, strap ends in the working gear of draft animals Or the like, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved buckle embodying novel means for securing the belt or strap ends and concealing the ends underneath the buckle to eliminate objectional loose ends and loops for holding the ends, in which the need for stitched and riveted connections is entirely eliminated, and in which the ends of the belt or strap parts may be adjusted from either end of the buckle.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is an inside face View of the buckle having the belt end connected therewith.

Figure 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a belt or strap clamp, and

Figure 5 is a face view of the buckle.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, I make use of a buckle plate In which is of the usual size and curvature, and is bent along its side edge margins to provide two flanges l2 spaced to receive the belt or strap ends l4 therebetween. Both flanges have inturned ears H5 at their ends spaced from the plate to permit the ends I4 to be inserted between the ears and the plate.

Two clamp members I 8 are rotatably journaled in the flanges l2 and at right angles thereto, with the members spaced from the plate 10 to permit the ends M to be inserted between the plate and the members. Each member has a clamp wedge 2|) projecting laterally therefrom and. with its sharp edge 22 outermost. Two grip ears 24 are also provided on each member, which ears lie in planes spaced circumferentially from their respective wedges 20. Both members l8 rotate freely with respect to the flanges l2.

The ends l4 pass easily underneath the members I 8 when, the members are rotated to project the wedges and the ears 24 away from the plate I0. After insertion of an end l4 underneath one of the members l8, the member is rotated to bring its gripping ears 24 into engagement with the end. An outward pull on the end M will cause the ears to secure a firm grip on the end to impart rotation to the member and bring the Wedge 20 into engagement with the end. A further pull on the end l4 causes the wedge to secure a firm bite on the end and clamp the end between the wedge and the plate H].

To prevent the members [8 from being rotated beyond the most effective clamping positions of the wedges 20, the members are provided with shoulders 26 arranged to engage the ears I6 when the members are in the strap clamping positions of Figure 2. These shoulders also function to indicate the clamping positions of the members by the sense of touch.

A buckle in accordance with my invention permits the buckle to be changed from one belt or strap to another with little effort. The buckle provides a smooth connection and eliminates all stitched and riveted connections incident to conventional belt and harness buckles.

A slight inward push on the strap ends rotates the members It! to releasing positions.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. In a buckle for connection with a strap end, a plate having flanges, a clamp member rotatab-ly journaled in said flanges and spaced from the plate to provide entrance for the strap end, strap end gripping means on said member for rotating the latter in one direction through an outward pull of the strapend relatively to the plate, and a clamp formation on said member for clamping the strap end against said plate when said member is rotated in said one direction, said gripping means being spaced from said clamp formation circumferentially of the axis of said member in such manner as to maintain engagement with the strap end in the strap end clamping position of said clamp formation.

2. In a buckle for connection with a strap end, a plate having flanges, a clamp member rotatably journaled in said flanges and spaced from the plate to provide entranc for the strap end, strap end gripping means on said member for rotating the latter in one direction through an outward pull of the strap end relatively to the plate, a clamp formation on said member for clamping the strap end against said plate when said member is rotated in said one direction, said gripping means being spaced from said clamp formation circumferentially of the axis of said member in such manner as to maintain engagement with the strap end in the strap end clamping position of said clamp formation, and coacting means on said member and said plate for ing laterally from said member and with its sharp end outermost, and in which said gripping means comprise wedge like elements.

5. The invention described in claim 2 wherein said coacting means comprise at least one ear on said plate and a shoulder on said member.

JAMES A. WESTERF'IELD. 

